Practical & Legal
Apostille
Also known as: Apostille Stamp, Apostille Convention, Hague Apostille
Quick answer
HCCH — Convention text · HCCH — status table · HCCH — Apostille Handbook · checked 9 Nov 2026
A competent authority in the place where the document originates issues the apostille. Covered public documents include administrative documents, court documents and notarial acts. The receiving authority may still have requirements about the document's admissibility, translation or use.
The HCCH status table lists 130 Contracting Parties in its June 2026 update. Check that the Convention is in force for the countries involved and review any objections or territorial limitations; the headline count includes parties for which entry into force may still be pending.
Ask the authority requesting the document what it needs before paying for certification or translation.
Sources
- HCCH — Convention text · checked 9 Nov 2026
- HCCH — status table · checked 9 Nov 2026
- HCCH — Apostille Handbook · checked 9 Nov 2026
Related terms
Hague Conventions
The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) develops treaties that help legal systems cooperate across borders. Its conventions cover subjects including public-document authentication, child abduction, intercountry adoption and service of legal documents.
Notarization
Notarization is a formal act performed by an authorised notary, such as witnessing a signature or certifying a document. A notary's powers and the effect of the act depend on the jurisdiction and the document.
Citizenship by Descent
Citizenship by descent derives nationality through a parent or ancestry under national law. It is not a universal number-of-generations entitlement. Italy's 2025 reform restricts automatic acquisition for people born abroad holding another citizenship; Ireland's Foreign Births Register has separate parent and Irish-born-grandparent rules. The relevant law, family events and application dates all matter.